All news – Page 6453
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Pegasus FMS heads for A340 flight tests with CNS/ATM
Airbus Industrie plans to use an A340 to flight test an advanced Honeywell Pegasus flight management system (FMS) fitted, for the first time, with communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) functionality. New functions include dual system communication links via Airbus' air traffic services unit (ATSU). The FMS-ATSU link provides ...
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Aeroflot discusses new fleet plans with Airbus and Boeing
Andrew Doyle/PARIS Aeroflot Russian International Airlines (ARIA) is in talks with Airbus and Boeing over a major aircraft deal that would be the first phase of the airline's plans to replace its entire fleet by 2015. The Russian flag carrier is initially focusing its attention on the Airbus A320 ...
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East African airlines plan joint operations to serve Dubai
Michael Wakabi/KAMPALA Gulf Air, Uganda Airlines and Air Tanzania are negotiating a tripartite agreement under which the three carriers will offer joint operations to Dubai out of East Africa. The East African airlines will gain access to Gulf Air's world route network. Signing is expected at the end of ...
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Safety reporting system fails
A seven-year attempt to establish a Europe-wide confidential aviation safety reporting system has failed and will stop operating at the end of this month. However, the steering group of the European Confidential Aviation Safety Reporting System (EUCARE)has drawn up recommendations for a European Commission directive that could require all ...
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TWA and union agree on new contract
Trans World Airlines and its major union representing flight attendants, mechanics, ramp workers and passenger service personnel, have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The terms of the new labour pact have not been disclosed, but it is understood to include increased wages and benefits. The deal ...
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Crash update
Stormy weather was the cause of a 9 June landing accident involving a Shantou Airlines Boeing 737-300(B-2525) at Zhanjiang, China, according to Shantou's major shareholder, China Southern Airlines. The aircraft came to rest off the runway with its landing gear collapsed. Meanwhile, the US National Transportation Safety Board says that ...
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Combat ready
Flight International puts the Rafale BO1 two-seat prototype to the test in its heavy configuration Chris Yeo/ISTRES FLIGHT TEST CENTRE Prototype fighters are usually first seen by the public at air shows. They are presented in an optimum configuration without large, heavy, drag-producing external stores and with a reduced ...
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Rafale - the quest for performance
Aircraft such as the Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Saab/BAe Gripen and the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor are well ahead of the previous generation of fighters, both in terms of performance and as weapons-carrying and deploying systems. This improvement has come from advances in the technology of control systems ...
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Alenia and Lockheed Martin roll out first C-27J Spartan
Alenia and Lockheed Martin rolled out the first C-27J Spartan light tactical transport aircraft at Alenia's Turin Caselle plant on 14 June. The aircraft is a former Alenia/Aeritalia G222 demonstrator rebuilt to the new C-27J configuration, but the second prototype will be a new aircraft and the third a G222 ...
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Eurockot plans Iridium launch on converted SS-19 ballistic missiles
The Russian-German Eurockot company has won a contract from Motorola for the December launch of two Iridium mobile communications satellites. This will be the first launch by the commercial organisation, which uses Rockot-converted Russian SS-19 intercontinental ballistic missiles as launch vehicles. Eurockot, a joint venture of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace and ...
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X-31 to fly again under tri-national MoU
Germany, Sweden and the USA are planning to launch the second phase of the X-31 experimental aircraft programme which will focus on using vectored thrust to improve take-off and landing performance. The German and US governments have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to start work on the thrust ...
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L-159 calls the shots in Norway
Aero Vodochody has completed live weapons firing trials with an L-159 light attack aircraft at a Norwegian test range, in preparation for first deliveries to the Czech air force in December. The aircraft fired Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air guided missiles, as well as Bristol Aerospace Canada ...
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Israel develops new anti-ship missile
The MBT division of Israel Aircraft Industries is developing a long-range, surface-to-surface, anti-ship missile to replace the Gabriel system aboard Israeli navy warships. The Gabriel, in service since the late 1960s, has been upgraded continuously but is near the end of its operational life. MBT has been developing the ...
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USAF considers re-opening Agent Defeat Warhead competition
The USAF is considering re-opening a competition for its Agent Defeat Warhead (ADW) programme after the first round, for initial development and demonstration, failed to attract bids "of sufficient merit to warrant an award". In March, the Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate at Eglin AFB, Florida, sought technical ...
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RAAF dummy ASRAAMs
Matra BAe Dynamics has delivered two dummy ASRAAM advanced short-range air-to-air missiles to the Royal Australian Air Force to support flight qualification testing aboard Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighters. Source: Flight International
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Marconi abandons FC-1 fighter bid
Marconi Electronic Systems has dropped out of the bidding to supply the radar and avionics for the Chengdu FC1/ Super 7, just days ahead of the expected signing by China and Pakistan of a deal to develop the new fighter jointly. The UK company confirms that it has not ...
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RAAF will retain C-130Es in operational service
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA The Royal Australian Air Force is to retain its 12 C-130Es in operational service for at least another year, following the Australian Government's decision to double the size of forces held at short-term readiness. The RAAF had planned to withdraw the aircraft from service this year, ...
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UAE will repeat F-16 EW system contest
The united Arab Emirates (UAE) will delay signing an order for 80 advanced Lockheed Martin F-16s until December because of a decision to re-run the competition for the electronic warfare (EW) system. A request for proposals is expected to be issued later this month to ITT/Litton, Lockheed Martin Sanders, Northrop ...
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SMA targets next year to gain MR200 engine certification
Kate Sarsfield/LONDONSociete de Motorisations Aeronautiques (SMA) is aiming for European certification of its 150kW (200hp) MR200 diesel engine in the second quarter of next year, followed closely by US certification. SMA is also negotiating with manufacturers to re-engine their aircraft. The four-cylinder engine, a joint venture between French light aircraft ...
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Gulf Air transfers line maintenance to GAMCO
Gulf Air has signed off the transfer of its entire line maintenance to sister company Gulf Aircraft Maintenance (GAMCO), and is beginning to replace its Boeing 767s with new Airbus A330-200s. The agreement to transfer the airline's worldwide line maintenance operation to GAMCO is part of an effort to ...